Vehicles are interesting purchases as some make excellent investments while others are always doomed to lose money. Where do boats lie on this spectrum? These water vehicles are usually seen as prestigious purchases – if someone has a boat, there’s a good chance they’re wealthy.
Nevertheless, should you consider investing in a boat or will it be a waste of money? Let’s look at the key arguments for and against.
The Case Against Boat Investments
Generally speaking, vehicles are not the best investments you can make. If you want to reduce the chances of losing money and increase returns, you’re far better off investing in real estate or stocks.
These investments have steadier markets and are more likely to be influenced by things that can boost the price. It’s almost guaranteed that a real estate investment will appreciate over many years, but the same can’t be said for boats or vehicles in general.
The key problem is that vehicles depreciate. A brand-new boat will always cost more than a second-hand one, meaning it’s hard to find ways of profiting from this purchase. Hard, but not impossible.
The Case For Boat Investments
On the other hand, a strong case can be made for boat investments – especially when compared to other vehicle purchases. Unlike cars, boats depreciate a lot slower. If you purchase a used boat, you can get excellent value for money and the resale price is often very close to what you paid – provided you’ve taken great care of your boat.
Moreover, there’s one excellent aspect of boats that turns them into a reasonable investment: you can make money from them.
Much like you’d rent out a house to make money, you can rent out a boat. Let others take your boat out on the water on the weekends for a fee. Or, if you have a big yacht, people can pay to have parties on it or stay overnight. You could even make money by providing boating experiences – people pay you to take them out on the water to see dolphins or other animals, or you take them fishing.
All in all, this means your boat can be a source of income, helping you generate a positive return on investment.
Things To Consider When Investing In A Boat
Boat investments can be profitable, but you need to keep a few things in mind:
- Always Buy Used – A used boat is cheaper and easier for you to make money from, never buy one brand-new.
- Factor In The Running Costs – This includes maintenance and insurance. It’s handy to follow a few boat insurance tips for the best deal, reducing your running costs and widening profit margins.
- Keep Your Boat In Excellent Condition – Maintain your boat as well as you can so it retains as much value as possible when you eventually sell it.
- Find Ways To Make Money From Your Boat – As mentioned above, you should explore different ways to monetize your boat so it brings in income.
If you follow these golden rules, boats will become an excellent investment. They offer more monetary practicality than a car or any other vehicle, which allows you to generate money from the boat while owning it. Add this to the resale price and boom; you made a profit.